The Century-Old School Cup | Starting Overseas Experience from Campus Football? Li Zhangzhu and His "Football Trainee" Program

Written by / Nan Nan On July 14, during the "Master Sharing Session" of the high school group at the second Century-Old School Elite Football Exchange Competition, the echoes of many coaches and players colliding with Jia Xiuquan had not yet completely faded. A week later, the "Master Sharing Session" for the elementary school group welcomed the Korean iron coach Li Zhangzhu, who has been coaching in China since 1998, in Qidong, Jiangsu. If Jia Xiuquan's participation was a spiritual collision among youth training coaches, then Li Zhangzhu's appearance is a return he brings to Chinese football.

Since starting his coaching career at the Forward Huandao in 1998, moving to Beijing Guoan, and then laying the foundation for the Guangzhou Evergrande dynasty, Li Zhangzhu's professional coaching career has been closely tied to Chinese professional football. Therefore, he wants to give back to Chinese football, and the best way to do that is to provide hope, goals, and motivation for the future of Chinese football. This Korean iron coach, who has coached six domestic clubs, needs to express his thoughts in a language that children can understand.

At 67 years old, Li Zhangzhu pointed out sharply during a discussion with the Qidong Municipal Education Bureau that both Korean and Chinese parents are very anxious about their children. The idiom "hope for one's son to become a dragon" reflects parents' expectations on one hand, while on the other hand, it depicts the pressure placed on children. Whether out of fear of an unknown future or the hardships experienced by parents, Li Zhangzhu believes that in both Korea and China, parents easily impose an invisible mold on their children, always hoping they can become what they desire.

Li Zhangzhu shared his own story with the children. He started playing football at the age of five and, like many Chinese children's parents, faced strong opposition from his own parents. The reason was simple: after every game, Li Zhangzhu's clothes were always soaked in sweat, smelling of sweat and marked with dirt. For many parents, getting clothes dirty is a big deal; to prevent him from playing, Li Zhangzhu's father even burned his jersey and shoes. There was no persuasion, only a simple and brutal outcome.

Li Zhangzhu did not compromise. "I was very afraid, afraid that they would burn my jersey and shoes again," he said. "So I kept my clothes and shoes at my friend's house. After every game, I would go to his house to wash them before returning home, and then go back to his house to change for the next game." The iron coach also had such a childhood, but he had a firm goal from a young age: "I never expected that at 67, I would still be involved in football-related matters."

The differences between youth training in China and Korea are the most concerning topics for children and coaches. However, for Li Zhangzhu, discussing the differences in Korean campus football is not as effective as letting the children personally experience Korean football's youth training.

Having worked in the Chinese football scene for over 20 years, Chinese football holds few secrets for him. He knows about the Jianlibao team that went to Brazil back in the day and understands the so-called "Jianlibao" model. In his view, the "Jianlibao" model merely drew a circle in Brazil, isolating Li Jinyu, Zhang Xiaorui, and others from the outside world. The circle was surrounded by agents introducing training match teams, while inside were dozens of repressed Chinese boys. Football in Brazil is joyful, but those Jianlibao boys may not even know what joy is.

Thus, enjoying happiness is the phrase Li Zhangzhu mentioned the most during the sharing session. He told the children that having a clear goal provides sufficient motivation, and sufficient motivation allows one to enjoy the happiness that football brings. Happiness comes from intrinsic drive and from the collision and integration of different cultures.

Li Zhangzhu wants to take Chinese children to Korea to participate in Korean campus football and experience elite youth training in Korea. In a sense, different cultures give rise to different players. Campus football can not only take root locally but can also be planted overseas. At least in our neighboring countries, Korea and Japan, football is closely tied to campuses.

When we think of Korea, we often recall its powerful ability to produce entertainment stars, but let's not forget that they also have the capacity to create football stars. Perhaps among the children attending the Century-Old School Cup in Qidong, some will become football trainees heading to Korea, being shaped into future stars of Chinese football in that country known for producing entertainment stars.

Whether it is Jia Xiuquan or Li Zhangzhu, whether it is Chinese campus football or Korean football trainees, the core remains the same. Campus football not only needs to be introduced but also needs to reach out.